The lpn/lvn can give oral meds, reinforce teaching the RN has already done, can perform bedside care, can take vitals as long as they arent the initial vitals.

the RN with a BSN can delegate, hang IVs, do dressed changes, document, and soemtimes can be a manager on the floor

The FNP can diagnose, perscribe medication, order and read test results and acts as the primary care provider

Is there a difference b/w an RN with a BSN and an RN with a BSN in community health or are they one in the same?

Dec 7, '11

I think I already wrote a paper on this topic : )
A hint is that a BSN community health nurse would take a very different role than the LNV and FNP. There is a reason to have all of them on a team. A community health nurse would function in a much different role than a BSN in a hospital setting.

Dec 8, '11

The BSN role is about the same as the ADN nurse, except that you have spent 75K on schooling and will make about 10 cents more per hour.

The BSN role is about the same as the ADN nurse, except that you have spent 75K on schooling and will make about 10 cents more per hour.

That may be true for the first few years, however the BSN-prepared nurse will later on have greater mobility to move into areas of management and administration that will likely be closed to the ADN-prepared nurse.

BSN = Bachelor of Science in Nursing

There is no "BSN in Community Health." There are Bachelor of Science degrees in community health and there is certification and MSN in Community Health. At least in the US, anyway.

Dec 8, '11

So someone with a Bachelors of Science degree in community health who is also can RN can do things that a regualr RN cant?

Dec 8, '11

I've never actually seen that combination. Generally, nurses will go for a bachelor of science in nursing, vs having an ADN or diploma and go for a degree in community health. What is more common is for a BSN-prepared nurse to get a master's degree in community health.

The bachelor's degree generally opens more doors into middle management and administrative roles, which generally remain closed to nurses without at least a BSN. It's not a matter of whether they can but rather the education that employers requires for particular positions. Don't confuse a degree with license.

Dec 8, '11

Many specialties require a BSN in order to sit for there test. I am a home health nurse and I do not have a BSN. Many of my fellow classmates are going for there BSN when asked why they do not have an answer. Too rich for my blood. I will stay a low ADN nurse.

Dec 9, '11

It's not a matter of low vs high, it's where you want to go with your career. There is absolutely nothing wrong with staying at the bedside for your entire career. However, after 20 years, my back is not what it once was and I am glad for the BSN that has allowed me to move into management and administration. With any luck, I will eventually earn an MSN in administration and continue to try to make a difference for patients, nurses, and home care in general in a way that I would not be able to do from the bedside.

The BSN role is about the same as the ADN nurse, except that you have spent 75K on schooling and will make about 10 cents more per hour.

I have worked with many ADN nurses (myself included!) who are much better prepared for work than a BSN. Also, I have had many supervisor's with ADN's + There is NO pay difference at my agency.... a skilled nursing visit is a skilled nursing visit no matter the degree

Dec 10, '11

In my state, only BSN nurses, and with a certification in Public Health, can do community nursing....unless you are talking about basic home health; (LVNs and ASNs can do home health)

Dec 10, '11

In California BSN nurses are required to do a 90 hour practicum in Public Health/ Community Health. It focuses on Public health areas such as communicable disease assessment, epidemiology, assessment of the health of the community as a whole and community intervention and education. I am an ADN and am just finishing an RN-BSN program. I have learned a lot about evidence based practice, research, leadership, and public health. I think that a BSN would be helpful to a bedside nurse and is essential to someone working in community/ public health.